HORSES, especially two-year-olds, returning from a long lay-off in group races and running to their expectations can be a tough task.

This was the case for favourite Shuwari (Ollie Sangster/Oisin Murphy) in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes as she settled for a good second on her first start since beating Fallen Angel, a subsequent Group 1 winner, in the Listed Star Stakes at Sandown in July.

Nothing should be taken away from the impressive performance put in by the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained winner Carla’s Way (James Doyle).

Bought for £350,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in April, there was plenty to like about the performance produced by the chesnut Starspangledbanner filly.

She sat in second for much of the race behind John and Thady Gosden’s Spiritual (Kieran Shoemark) who set quick sectionals between the four-furlong and two-furlong poles.

As expected, the early-race leader faded away into a distant fourth while the eventual winner continued her strong gallop to the line, and with the market principals of Shuwari and Ylang Ylang (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) filling the places behind, this suggests we have seen a notably exciting performance from the Rockfel winner.

Carla’s Way could be a contender for next season’s Group 1 1000 Guineas if connections so wish to go there, though with the speedy influence of her sire and the fact that her dam, Sulaalaat, was more of a six and seven-furlong horse, the jury is still out on her classic credentials.

Time looks a future Group 1 filly

SUPER-SIRE Frankel achieved his 38th individual stakes winner for this season at flat racing’s headquarters yesterday with the help of Time Lock (Harry and Roger Charlton/Ryan Moore) in the Group 3 Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Stakes.

Having been well-supported before the off, the Juddmonte homebred sat perfectly positioned on the stands side of the track before Moore pressed the button two-and-a-half furlongs from home, leaving the John and Thady Gosden-trained duo of Sweet Memories (Frankie Dettori) and Running Lion (Oisin Murphy) well behind.

Post-race, Moore suggested that Time Lock has the ability for Group 1 races in the future but needs good ground, throwing doubt about whether she would go for the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.

Sticking with the fillies, Copice (John and Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori) made her last start in the UK a successful one in Listed Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai British EBF Rosemary Stakes before she heads off to the USA to continue her racing career.

Tarawa third

Although some mid-race encouragement was required, Dettori belted himself into the driver’s seat and steered Coppice to victory down Rowley Mile highway; the experienced Potapova (Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore) showed great character in second while Dermot Weld’s Tarawa (Chris Hayes) was a valiant third on her first UK start.

One key area to note ahead of racing at Newmarket on Saturday is that both Coppice (stall seven) and Time Lock (stall 11) finished their race with a powerful charge to the line on the side closest to the stands; this could see a draw bias towards the higher stalls in races like the big field bet365 Cambridgeshire Handicap.

MANY things can be considered certainties in life. Death, taxes, and a Willie Mullins-trained bumper winner.

As of this weekend, we have another item to add to the list as Mutasaabeq (Charlie Hills/Jim Crowley) made it four wins from five on the Rowley Mile in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes.

In a race that the Shadwell Estate-owned entire won 12 months ago, Crowley replicated another brilliant ride from the front to repel the late charge from Regal Reality (Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore) and Chindit (Richard Hannon/Pat Dobbs).

Similarly to last year, the Invincible Spirit entire set steady, but not slow, early sectionals from the front with a small lift in tempo three furlongs from home.

Hurtling towards the two-furlong pole, Crowley released a few inches of the reins just before the top of the Rowley Mile dip in order to go and win the race in a dominating style, much like most of his wins at his favoured course.

Although connections called stumps for the season after his win in the 2022 renewal of this contest, the five-year-old holds an entry for the Group 2 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes at Newmarket over seven furlongs on October 13th, so if he can get his preferred good ground, the potential of having one more run this year could be a possibility.

Newmarket Thursday

THERE aren’t many better sights in horse racing than a quality horse slicing through a congested field to just get their head in front on the line.

Luckily for Newmarket spectators on Thursday, they got to experience a scenario like this as Jim Crowley guided Alyanaabi (Owen Burrows) to victory in the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes.

The well-backed Shadwell Estate-owned two-year-old had to wait for a welcome invitation during the seven-furlong contest, but when the gap opened up after the furlong pole, he powered up the hallowed turf to chin Boiling Point (Roger Varian/James Doyle) on the line with John and Thady Gosden’s Eben Shaddad (Benoit De La Sayette) back in third.

As much as the winning connections will be extremely pleased about the result, one can only imagine the celebrations at Dalham Hall Stud as their first-season stallion Too Darn Hot sired the first two home, only adding to the previous successes of Fallen Angel and Darnation this season.

Facile

The theme of blue-coloured silks in the Newmarket winners’ enclosure continued 35 minutes later thanks to the 18-length success of Trawlerman (John and Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori) in the Listed Jockey Club Rose Bowl Stakes.

Sent off as the 1/5 favourite, last season’s Sky Bet Ebor Handicap winner made all of the two-mile trip and despite the need for a shake of the reins three furlongs from the winning post, he showed Island Brave (Heather Main/Oisin Murphy) a clean set of heels.

Bookies cut the five-year-old by Golden Horn to 25/1 from 33/1 for the Group 2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup on October 21st, a race he will head to, as confirmed by joint-trainer John Gosden.